l do want to thank you so much for the exemplary service you have given me in dealing with my left eye cataract.

Leading up to my operation you carefully and fully explained my options and your suggestion of a Symphony lens which l accepted has proved to be extremely successful giving me clarity of long distance and also some useful reading ability.
Throughout you have brought a straightforwardness and humourbwhich has given me confidence and made the experience so satisfactory.
Thank you again. I would have no hesitation in recommending your services to others.

I have always been short sighted and have worn glasses since primary school. Without them blurred was normal. Blurred with them meant a stronger prescription.

Fast forward fifty years and I was told I had cataracts and handed an even stronger prescription. Three years later no glasses would give me the vision needed to carry out everyday activities.

By chance I learned on the internet about a talk Mr Shafiq was giving ,and went more to find out about my condition than for any other reason.

After finding out that:

a)I could be treated quickly,

b) a highly skilled and rated surgeon would be seeing me throughout and

c) my astigmatism would be corrected as well so the hated glasses would be a thing of the past

I decided to self refer.

It was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

To say I was terrified would be an understatement (I had never even contemplated laser surgery for that reason).

However, Mr Shafiq’s manner and explanations before, during and after the procedures made the whole experience as comfortable as possible.

I will never forget that eureka moment when removing the patch after the first operation -I never realised it was possible to see so far and so clearly. Now the whole world looks better, brighter, clearer.

I genuinely believe that not only my eyesight but also my physical and mental health have improved, and it is still early days.

I just had to say thank you again for the difference you have made to my quality of life over the past 4 weeks! I am amazed every day by how well I can see to get about and drive without the need for any correction. As I had been a contact lens wearer for over 40 years when I developed glaucoma 9 years ago it was a huge blow to me to find that due to the need to use medication to control my glaucoma my eyes became less tolerant of contact lenses and I had come to rely greatly on varifocal specs most of the time. Having already lost a significant amount of vision in my left eye I felt extremely anxious about facing surgery on my ‘good’ right eye but the cataract was interfering greatly with my day to day life and I could not delay any longer. Upon coming to see you I immediately felt you were the right person to undertake my surgery as your professional but friendly, relaxed and approachable manner instilled confidence in me. Your suggested plan was to implant a toric lens in my right eye to correct both my short sightedness and astigmatism and give me the best walking around vision possible, the left eye could then be corrected with a standard lens to help with closer vision. Four weeks ago I had the first procedure carried out followed two weeks later by the second, both lots of surgery went as planned and were totally pain free, the reassurance and kindness I received from both yourself and the theatre staff made both experiences completely positive and pleasant ones! Now four weeks on and I’m able to enjoy my life again without the need for glasses or contact lens, requiring specs only for reading, which I don’t mind at all. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been able to avail myself of your experience and expertise, thank you so much Ayad.

“In December 2017 I went for an eye test expecting to purchase some new glasses with varifocal lenses however the test revealed that I had cataracts in both eyes. Whilst this came as a shock it did explain why on occasions I had difficulty with my vision when not wearing glasses and also with oncoming car headlights.

I was referred to Mr Shafiq at the Nuffield Hospital and after an initial consultation in January 2018, two operations and two follow up consultations over a six week period I now have excellent eyesight. I no longer need to wear glasses as both eyes have been fitted with trifocal intraocular lenses. Compared to the ‘grey’ world I lived in prior to the operations the difference in colours, brightness and sharpness of objects is remarkable and I have noticed very small things at home that I hadn’t seen previously. Both operations were very successful and went as expected as I had watched a video of the procedure on Mr Shafiq’s website so I knew what to expect! Throughout this process , both during consultations and operations, Mr Shafiq has explained everything at a level that I could understand, answered all of my questions to my satisfaction and was reassuring at all times. The only concern I had was a few days after the second operation where I was seeing halos around car headlights and traffic lights. Mr Shafiq assured me that this was normal due to the way that the lenses dispersed the light and that after a period of time I wouldn’t notice them.

I would also like to praise all other staff at the Nuffield Hospital involved in both the operations and the ward day care. Having eye surgery can be quite scary but whilst being professional at all times their friendly approach put me at ease before, during and after both operations.

If you have any doubts about having cataracts removed or having the trifocal intraocular lenses fitted then don’t. The end result is fantastic and I would highly recommend Mr Shafiq to anyone considering having this done.”

Mr Shafiq operated on the cataract in my left eye on the 2nd Febuary 2018.
A Symphony lens was inserted under local anaesthetic, the whole procedure went without a hitch. The staff were very attentive and Mr Shafiq reassuring during the operation.
Mr Shafiq followed up four days later and the eye was healing well.
The sight which I now enjoy is amazing, much better than I expected.
The hospital pre and post op were first class.

I consulted Mr Shafiq early in December to speak about treatment for a cataract in my right eye – I also have an astigmatism. He explained about various lenses and I decided to have a toric lense fitted. Within two weeks I had the procedure. I was extremely nervous but Mr Shafiq and his staff treated me in a calm encouraging manner. In theatre Mr.Shafiq was quietly reassuring and professional – which helped me to relax.

I had a pad on my eye overnight…..when it was removed the following day I was amazed at how good my sight was..IS. I have full legal driving sight in my right eye.

A month later I returned to the Nuffield Hospital to have the same procedure to my left eye and again I have an astigmatism. I once again had a toric lense implant. I wasn’t as nervous as I had experience behind me. All went smoothly with the same care and attention as before.

I now have the best eyesight I could ever have imagined – as good as it was when I was 10 or 11 years of age! I am now 72….

Mr. Shafiq not only told me ‘ he’d look after me’ and he did – he also remained professional at all times. I think he must ‘hand pick’ his staff as they were equally reassuring.

On a final note – if you are uncertain or hesitating to deal with the fact you have cataracts, please don’t wait. Go and see a consultant and I really can recommend Mr. Shafiq.

My recent cataract surgery performed by Dr Ayad Shafiq and his team was undertaken in an extremely professional and sensitive way.

Pre-operative and post-operative care has been exemplary.

My vision is now comparable with the vision of my youth. I am now able to indulge again in many sporting and hobby activities.

Dr Ayad Shafiq and his team had also previously performed cataract surgery on my wife who also now enjoys much better vision. We are now able to continue a full and active life thanks to Dr Ayad Shafiq.

May I recommend Dr Ayad Shafiq as a skilled professional, sensitive to patient needs and anxieties, whose charismatic character exudes confidence.

GC Jan 18

Mr Ayad Shafiq has quite literally changed my life. At the age of 68 I found myself needing cataract surgery, after wearing glasses since I was four and a half and toric contact lenses since I was forty two. On the recommendation of my optician I went to see Mr Shafiq who is doing ground breaking surgery with toric lenses.
After discussing the potential benefits of toric lens implant verses a conventional implant, I decided with full support from my husband to go ahead with toric lens implant. On the 10th of June 2016 I had the surgery on my right eye. I was somewhat nervous going into surgery but I need not have worried as Mr Shafiq was constantly reassuring and explained step by step what he was doing, I did not feel a thing and was home before I knew it.
On the morning of the 11th June a new world opened up to me. Not only were the colours around me amazing, my distance vision was and is amazing. I was so amazed and pleased with the result I went ahead and had a toric implant into my left eye. On my follow up visit Mr Shafiq decided he was not happy with the angle of the lens so he went ahead and moved the lens. Together the two lenses have given me a new window on the world and I would have no hesitation in recommending toric implants to others.
The whole experience of cataract surgery was a positive one thanks to Mr Shafiq. He is without a doubt a dedicated surgeon and committed to give people the best possible outcome following such surgery.

It is normal for one to face an operation with a degree of concern and caution, even more so when it relates to the eyes and in my case I was unbelievably nervous (scared!) Mr Shafiq and staff at the Nuffield, Newcastle understood this and ensured throughout the whole process that I was treated and communicated with, most professionally and sympathetically. And the outcome…………? In a word ……………… astonishing! Glasses? ……… what glasses? Everything I now look at is “crystal clear” and I feel that I can see for miles. Also, I can now read things relatively close up, this was impossible prior to the surgery. Thank you Mr Shafiq and staff.